Prayers at any spot not religious right: HC; says no to namaz near Mumbai airport citing security

Bombay High Court denies taxi drivers' plea for namaz near Mumbai airport, prioritizing security over religious rights during Ramzan.

Security overrides religion, the Bombay High Court said on Thursday (March 5, 2026) while refusing any relief to taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers seeking to offer namaz at the site of a now demolished temporary shed near the city airport during Ramzan.

A Bench of Justices B.P. Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla noted that while Ramzan was an integral part of Islam, its adherents cannot claim to have a religious right to offer namaz (prayers) at any place during the holy month, especially in the vicinity of an airport where security concerns are high.

Repeatedly stressing on the aspect of airport security, the HC said it will not throw caution to the wind.

The court was hearing a petition filed by the Taxi-Rickshaw Ola-Uber Men's Union claiming that a temporary shed in the vicinity of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), where they used to offer prayers, was demolished by authorities last year.

The plea sought for them to be allowed to use the same space or be allotted another site in the same area where they could offer namaz.

Muslims currently are observing the holy month of Ramzan, a period involving daily fasting from dawn to sunset, prayers, increased charity, and spiritual reflection.